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My Redford has a murmur at 9

Hello. I joined to see if I could learn about anything to do for my Redford. He is 9 and was just diagnosed by the University of Fl in Gainesville that he has

Message 1 of 8
, Nov 16, 2008

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Hello. I joined to see if I could learn about anything to do for my
Redford. He is 9 and was just diagnosed by the University of Fl in
Gainesville that he has a grade 4. The cardiologist put him on Anapril.
Can anyone tell me from your experiences what to expcet.
Thanks.

susan shidler

Hi Cheryl, Redford was just diagnosed? At 9? That s awesome!! He s on the appropriate meds and will probably have many years ahead of him. If you

Message 2 of 8
, Nov 18, 2008

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Hi Cheryl,

Redford was just diagnosed? At 9? That's awesome!! He's on the appropriate meds and will probably have many years ahead of him. If you are not already, start giving him 30mg of CoQ 10 daily. Add 400mg of vit E to that. Vitamin Shoppe makes a one capsule combo of that. Also no salt diet. Make sure his exercize is limited and don't let him get too hot or too cold. Otherwise, he'll be fine!

Contact me privately if you want any other info. Let me know how you are!!

Hi Everyone s experiences are different. Some dogs deteriorate quickly, others seemingly stabilise for long periods (like our Lucy, who has been in CHF for

Message 3 of 8
, Nov 19, 2008

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Hi

Everyone's experiences are different. Some dogs deteriorate quickly, others seemingly stabilise for long periods (like our Lucy, who has been in CHF for 2.5 years!). So what happened to our dogs won't necessarily happen to Redford. All you can do is take each day as it comes. It's fantastic news though that Redford was the ripe age of 9 before he was diagnosed!!

I'll tell you our story, it's long, but hopefully useful!

Our Lucy was diagnosed with a murmur aged about 6. It started at a low grade and didn't move for a long time (she was panting a lot, and that's how the murmur was discovered). Over the years there was a slight deterioration but nothing more than you'd expect. In July 2006 (aged 8) we took her to see a cardiologist (her first time) and he said that her heart was enlarged, she was in CHF and they could change her diuretics (by this time she was on quite the cocktail of drugs!) but once they maxed out on those, there was nothing they could do. He expected her to have maybe 6 months or so.

Well, 6 months later, she was back. She was very well, and hardly any different! There has been some deterioration since July 2006, but nothing unexpected, and still very slow. The cardiologist calls her "my bionic dog". :) We are about to make an appointment for January 2009 - and she turns 11 on 16th December this year. I think it brightens his day when he sees her, and it's quite funny really, her toddling along, looking like a right little fraud. :)

Every so often, she'll have a "blip". She'll start coughing more, and we need to increase the diuretics. Then after a few days, we can reduce them again and she's fine. The medication is very finely balanced ... the diuretics need to be a high enough dose to do their jobs, but low enough to minimise stress on the kidneys. We're still treading that line and her kidneys are coping so far ... although eventually that won't be the case. Our cardiologist has advised us that it's quite possible that Lucy's heart will hold out but ultimately it will be her kidneys that fail. We'll just have to wait and see.

Her drugs at this point are:

Vetmedin 2.5mg, twice daily

Fortekor 5mg, once daily

Spironolactone 25mg, twice daily

Frusemide 20mg, twice daily

Digoxin 62.5mcg, 0.5 twice daily

Cod liver oil capsule

To look at Lucy she's the picture of health! Sure she sleeps a lot, but otherwise, she's the same eccentric, adorable dog she's always been. :)

Things we think have had a positive effect - keeping her weight right, giving her the medication exactly as the directions describe, regular cardiologist visits, minimising stress, no strenuous exercise and being very vigilant about changes in her condition, or anything health related. Anything happens out of the ordinary and we take her straight to the vet - and cardiologist if need be.

Good luck with Redford and let us know if there's anything we can help you with :)

Hello. I joined to see if I could learn about anything to do for my Redford. He is 9 and was just diagnosed by the University of Fl in Gainesville that he has a grade 4. The cardiologist put him on Anapril.
Can anyone tell me from your experiences what to expcet.Thanks.

Mary McCrea

Cheryl, I m so sorry to hear about Redford, but now you ve got a diagnosis..and a treatment plan. We lost our beloved Cocker Spaniel to CHF over ten years

Message 4 of 8
, Nov 21, 2008

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Cheryl, I'm so sorry to hear about Redford, but now you've got a diagnosis..and a treatment plan. We lost our beloved Cocker Spaniel to CHF over ten years ago, but even then with available drugs and treatment, we had him almost four good years after initial diagnosis (which was rather late into the CHF when he developed that tell-tale mid-night cough). Please keep us posted on Redford!

Elaine and Lucy, I'm still lurking about here, having joined the group when we thought our Tri had MVD. I appreciate your taking the time and effort to spell out so well what your journey has been and the medications and doses given. This kind of information is very helpful to those who will be facing MVD and arm us with facts we'll need to help make wise decisions on behalf our lovely Cavaliers. (I consider that, having two Cavaliers and the extremely likely possibility one or both will develop MVD, we will need to make these same decisions ourselves in the next few years.) Thanks!

Mary

CavaleirsAreKings

Elaine Ross

Thanks Mary - I m always happy to talk about Lucy, all I need is an opportunity! LOL!! Elaine ... Elaine and Lucy, I m still lurking about here, having joined

Message 5 of 8
, Nov 21, 2008

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Thanks Mary - I'm always happy to talk about Lucy, all I need is an opportunity! LOL!!

Elaine and Lucy, I'm still lurking about here, having joined the group when we thought our Tri had MVD. I appreciate your taking the time and effort to spell out so well what your journey has been and the medications and doses given. This kind of information is very helpful to those who will be facing MVD and arm us with facts we'll need to help make wise decisions on behalf our lovely Cavaliers. (I consider that, having two Cavaliers and the extremely likely possibility one or both will develop MVD, we will need to make these same decisions ourselves in the next few years.) Thanks!

Mary

CavaleirsAreKings

.

Carol Theisen

I have to thank all of you for the support and information you have shared! We just got refills of Trina s meds from Walmart because of your suggestions and

Message 6 of 8
, Nov 21, 2008

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I have to thank all of you for the support and information you have shared! We just got refills of Trina's meds from Walmart because of your suggestions and it will save us over $60 a month. I would never have guessed that we could get her meds from Walmart.

Trina continues to hang in there. She is due for her 6 month check up and tests. Her cough and breathing seems worse, but she still sleeps through the night. She goes for a daily walk, and her appetite is great. I hope she will be with us as long as possible.

Cheryl, I'm so sorry to hear about Redford, but now you've got a diagnosis..and a treatment plan. We lost our beloved Cocker Spaniel to CHF over ten years ago, but even then with available drugs and treatment, we had him almost four good years after initial diagnosis (which was rather late into the CHF when he developed that tell-tale mid-night cough). Please keep us posted on Redford!

Elaine and Lucy, I'm still lurking about here, having joined the group when we thought our Tri had MVD. I appreciate your taking the time and effort to spell out so well what your journey has been and the medications and doses given. This kind of information is very helpful to those who will be facing MVD and arm us with facts we'll need to help make wise decisions on behalf our lovely Cavaliers. (I consider that, having two Cavaliers and the extremely likely possibility one or both will develop MVD, we will need to make these same decisions ourselves in the next few years.) Thanks!

Mary

CavaleirsAreKings

Terri Davis

Elaine, glad to hear Lucy s still doing well. Roxie is also hanging in there and she was diagnosed at the same time as Lucy. We take it one day at a time

Message 7 of 8
, Nov 29, 2008

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Elaine, glad to hear Lucy's still doing well. Roxie is also "hanging in there" and she

was diagnosed at the same time as Lucy. We take it one day at a time and are

Everyone's experiences are different. Some dogs deteriorate quickly, others seemingly stabilise for long periods (like our Lucy, who has been in CHF for 2.5 years!). So what happened to our dogs won't necessarily happen to Redford. All you can do is take each day as it comes. It's fantastic news though that Redford was the ripe age of 9 before he was diagnosed!!

I'll tell you our story, it's long, but hopefully useful!

Our Lucy was diagnosed with a murmur aged about 6. It started at a low grade and didn't move for a long time (she was panting a lot, and that's how the murmur was discovered). Over the years there was a slight deterioration but nothing more than you'd expect. In July 2006 (aged 8) we took her to see a cardiologist (her first time) and he said that her heart was enlarged, she was in CHF and they could change her diuretics (by this time she was on quite the cocktail of drugs!) but once they maxed out on those, there was nothing they could do. He expected her to have maybe 6 months or so.

Well, 6 months later, she was back. She was very well, and hardly any different! There has been some deterioration since July 2006, but nothing unexpected, and still very slow. The cardiologist calls her "my bionic dog". :) We are about to make an appointment for January 2009 - and she turns 11 on 16th December this year. I think it brightens his day when he sees her, and it's quite funny really, her toddling along, looking like a right little fraud. :)

Every so often, she'll have a "blip". She'll start coughing more, and we need to increase the diuretics. Then after a few days, we can reduce them again and she's fine. The medication is very finely balanced ... the diuretics need to be a high enough dose to do their jobs, but low enough to minimise stress on the kidneys. We're still treading that line and her kidneys are coping so far ... although eventually that won't be the case. Our cardiologist has advised us that it's quite possible that Lucy's heart will hold out but ultimately it will be her kidneys that fail. We'll just have to wait and see.

Her drugs at this point are:

Vetmedin 2.5mg, twice daily

Fortekor 5mg, once daily

Spironolactone 25mg, twice daily

Frusemide 20mg, twice daily

Digoxin 62.5mcg, 0.5 twice daily

Cod liver oil capsule

To look at Lucy she's the picture of health! Sure she sleeps a lot, but otherwise, she's the same eccentric, adorable dog she's always been. :)

Things we think have had a positive effect - keeping her weight right, giving her the medication exactly as the directions describe, regular cardiologist visits, minimising stress, no strenuous exercise and being very vigilant about changes in her condition, or anything health related. Anything happens out of the ordinary and we take her straight to the vet - and cardiologist if need be.

Good luck with Redford and let us know if there's anything we can help you with :)

Hello. I joined to see if I could learn about anything to do for my Redford. He is 9 and was just diagnosed by the University of Fl in Gainesville that he has a grade 4. The cardiologist put him on Anapril. Can anyone tell me from your experiences what to expcet.Thanks.

Elaine Ross

Thanks Terri, and likewise for Roxie. It really is just one day at a time - deal with today s challenges and see what tomorrow brings. They really are a pair

Message 8 of 8
, Dec 2, 2008

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Thanks Terri, and likewise for Roxie. It really is just one day at a time - deal with today's challenges and see what tomorrow brings. They really are a pair of troopers!